Perceived Self-efficacy and Coping Strategies in Stressful Situations

This study was carried out to determine the relationship between perceived self-efficacy and coping strategies in stressful situations. This study was conducted using survey and cross-sectional method. Data were collected from 373 students of seven educational groups of Yazd University, between 22 June and 22 July 2006. The subjects were selected through cluster-randomized sampling method. The instruments for gathering data were Coping Strategies Scale-Revised (CSS-R), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), Undergraduate Students Scale (USS), and Multidimensional Assessment of Stressful Life Events Scale (MASLES). The results showed significant difference among students with different levels of perceived self-efficacy, with regard to coping strategies in general (P<0.001), and with regard to components of coping strategies: seeking social support (p<0.01), avoidance coping (P<0.001), emotion-focused coping (p<0.01), active coping (p<0.01), and self-control (p<0.01) in particular. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that the perceived self-efficacy variable accounted for 20.3% of the variance in coping strategies. The results of the current study casts doubt on the premises of social-cognitive theory about the higher use of problem-focused coping by persons with high perceived self-efficacy, and the higher use of emotion-focused coping, such as avoidance coping and self-control by persons with lower perceived self-efficacy.